By Lone Lourens | Marketing and Fundraising Manager
Woodside Sanctuary is proud to announce that we have made significant progress in reducing our debt, and we are now a going concern once again. This achievement reflects our dedication and the support of our community. However, as a non-profit organisation (NPO), we still rely heavily on continued fundraising efforts to sustain our operations. To ensure that we can continue providing essential care and services to individuals with profound intellectual and physical disabilities, ongoing financial support remains crucial. Your contributions enable us to keep making a difference in the lives of those who need it most.
These are some of the highlights that we have experienced since our last report.
The Reatile Foundation and Egoli Gas
The Reatile Foundation, which is the charitable arm of Egoli Gas, reached out to us to inquire about any major maintenance issues that Woodside might need assistance with. On the same day, they visited our facility, bringing along three contractors to provide cost estimates for the necessary repairs.
We showed the Reatile team several areas in need of attention, including the rockslide, our aging Herbert Baker Building (the olest structure on our property), and our linoleum floors. Reatile generously decided to assist with the restoration of the Herbert Baker Building, taking on tasks such as replacing gutters, refinishing and repainting walls, revitalizing window frames, and more.
The Reatile Foundation project began on May 20th and was completed by June 28th. The transformation of our building is truly remarkable, and we are incredibly grateful to the Reatile Foundation for addressing these critical maintenance needs—work that we would not have been able to undertake on our own.
The Reatile Foundation plans to bring some of the prominent figures in their Trust to Woodside to showcase the completed work. We are currently awaiting confirmation of a date for this event.
Buddy Day 2024
Our angels participated in the annual Buddy Day event on April 27th at La Salle College Discovery, an occasion that is always a highlight on our calendar. Buddy Day pairs high school students with a buddy who has special needs, allowing them to enjoy a variety of activities together throughout the day. We extend our heartfelt thanks to the Helderkruin Lions Club for consistently including Woodside in this joyful event, which is not only a favourite among our residents but also plays a vital role in promoting inclusivity within the community.
Deloitte Volunteer Day 2024
The amazing team from Deloitte visited Woodside on Tuesday, May 14th, for their 2024 Volunteer Day. They generously shared their expertise to enhance the computer skills of our dedicated staff, guiding them through budgeting and other essential computer tasks—an experience that was both enjoyable and invaluable for everyone involved.
In addition, they revitalized one of our gardens, transforming it into a beautiful space filled with succulents and vibrant flowers. The Deloitte team also joined our angels for a fun-filled party, bringing along delicious snacks and treats that our residents thoroughly enjoyed.
We are deeply grateful to Deloitte for choosing to dedicate their time and effort to making a positive impact at Woodside Sanctuary.
Nelson Mandela Day 2024
Woodside was honoured to welcome three incredible groups for #MandelaDay2024.
Team members from the SABC Information Library, SABC Music Library, and SABC Audio Restoration dedicated their 67 minutes to tidying one of our gardens, and they also generously donated R1,080.00.
Playmakers, Future Play, and Captivate brought a generous donation of toiletries, a soiled linen trolley, clothing, and stimulation items. They spent meaningful time with our residents, thanks to Rebecca Christensen, whose sister is a resident at Woodside. The visiting team was deeply moved by their experience and expressed interest in future support.
Netcare Rehabilitation Hospital and the social work team from Dube Pottas Inc. also visited, bringing a large donation of toiletries, non-perishable food, and treats for our residents. The social workers spent time in our stimulation departments, engaging with and assisting our residents.
Additionally, Premier Corporate donated a significant amount of non-perishable food and pads, delivered by Heather Deitrich from Feedem Labour.
Volunteer Assistance – Website
Woodside is part the Deloitte for Good network, and through this network we are able to reach out to volunteers and donors with our specific needs.
We were contacted by a volunteer through the For Good page, offering to assist with the redesign of our website. Her goal is to make it user-friendly, allowing us to update it independently without needing external help. This would be incredibly beneficial, as it would enable us to post events and needs immediately.
Our volunteer has been working on the website for a few months and has made significant progress. She shared the link to her work, allowing us to review it and request any changes or additions. She is currently finalizing the project with the help of another programmer, and we hope to launch the new website soon.
Working with Rotary Australia World Community Service (RAWCS)
Ms. P. Veale, the daughter of Woodside’s Founder, has been instrumental in raising awareness for Woodside by sharing our story with Rotary clubs in Australia. She has given numerous talks and presentations on our behalf and has even set up a RAWCS fundraiser for Woodside. Her efforts have been incredibly successful, and we are deeply grateful for her generous assistance in expanding our reach internationally. Raising awareness is crucial to ensuring our future sustainability, and Ms. Veale’s contributions are making a significant impact.
Key focus points
Focusing on our future sustainability
We have been actively focusing on raising funds for Woodside while also exploring projects that can contribute to our long-term sustainability. Among the options available, solar power stands out as the most viable, as even a modest 110 kW system could save Woodside up to R800,000 annually.
To support our solar project, we have reached out to several donors, including The Rotary Club of Johannesburg New Dawn, which is working to secure funding for us from Rotary International. Although this process is challenging, Mr. Kasango (one of Woodside’s committee members and member of Rotary Club of JHB New Dawn) has been a dedicated advocate for Woodside, doing everything possible to advance our appeal. Ms. Veale is also continuing to seek funding and support from Rotary clubs in Australia for our solar project, working closely with Mr. Kasango.
If we succeed in securing a donor to support our solar installation, the resulting cost savings will significantly reduce our funding deficit, making it much more manageable and attainable.
Maintenance at Woodside
Woodside is now taking a much more proactive approach to maintenance. Our buildings are aging, and while maintenance has always been a priority, we previously responded to issues reactively as they arose. This year, however, we have shifted towards addressing problems before they escalate. For example, we replaced a badly deteriorating fence with a solid wall, thanks to a generous donation, which has significantly enhanced our security. We are also focusing on other maintenance needs, such as painting and addressing damp issues, to ensure our facilities remain in top condition. As a result, Woodside is looking fantastic, and our residents now enjoy a beautifully maintained building that truly feels like home.
In Closing
The past few months have been incredibly stressful and challenging. We’ve had to reevaluate our approach and become more proactive in finding leads and submitting applications. While we’ve achieved some great successes, they haven’t come easily. As a Non Profit organisation, we will always be reliant on the kindness and generosity of our wonderful donors and supporters in order to be able to continue providing our much needed services to some of the most marginalised and vulnerable people in our society, those with profound intellectual and physical disabilities.
Our primary focus remains the provision of exceptional full-time care to all 83 of our profoundly intellectually disabled residents, including 23 who are either orphaned or lack financial support—our Angels. The adults and children in our care require lifelong assistance and will never be able to care for themselves or integrate into normal society. This ongoing responsibility necessitates continuous funding to ensure that all our residents receive the best possible care. Woodside Sanctuary is a special place where passion and purpose come together to help our residents grow and reach their full potential.
Thanks to the GlobalGiving community, we have raised $13 125 (R235 222.31) for Woodside’s Angels project. We are deeply grateful for your incredible support and generosity. Your contributions have enabled us to continue providing food, medications, toiletries, a place of safety, holistic care, and stimulation for the 23 profoundly intellectually disabled orphans and vulnerable angels in our care.
Like many non-profit organizations, Woodside Sanctuary relies heavily on the kindness and generosity of our donors and supporters. It is only through their support that we can maintain the highest standards of care and offer our residents first-rate nursing, medical, and residential services. On behalf of Woodside Sanctuary, and especially the angels in our care, we extend our heartfelt thanks to our donors and supporters for their exceptional generosity and kindness.
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